Times are getting a lot better in my household because I’m actually getting the chance to bathe. Yes, judge me all you want but fellow parents know what I’m talkin’ about. Especially nursing (ahem, or pumping) mamas. Baths are limited when you’ve got a baby. And I hear it’s even worse with toddlers. I’m afraid, y’all. Very afraid. I got these for review and the other day I took a shower using them…

Um, wow. Coconut water is beyond popular these days. Personally, I find that it tastes like sweat but coconut water in a body wash ain’t too shabby. Especially when the fragrance is nice, subtle and clean. Ahhh yes. How I miss the days of smelling clean and not like baby barf.

This body wash reminds me of something that I’d wear if I was on a cruise or somethin’. There’s something about cruising that makes you want to smell like the ocean and palm trees. Whatever palm trees smell like. Dial also has the Skin Therapy Body Wash with Himalayan Salt.

This one is a little more floral than I’d like but it’s not overwhelming. Both body washes seem perfect for my dry skin. They’ve got hydrating properties and their scents are definitely Spring and Summer friendly. Way to go, Dial! This brand has come a long way from their golden hand soaps. Remember those? They were total staples in my elementary school classes.

And yes, I can remember things like that.

Price: Around $4.99 for a 16 oz bottle.Availability: Currently available at grocery, drug and mass retailers nationwide.Is it worth the money?: Yah! I mean, it’s less than $5 and it’s a nice and hydrating body wash. If you’re in need of something new for the shower/bath, I think you’ll like these.

Welp. Spring time is here. And that means it’s time to switch up the body products. Yes, darlings. As the seasons change, so do my body preferences. I prefer thicker butters, creams and soaps in the winter time but now that it’s warmer, it’s time for somethin’ a little different.

Like this kid I got sent to review!

Okay, so we all know how I feel about fragranced products. Yeah, I just can’t get down with too many of them but whatever – I know I’m in the minority and it just so happens that St. Ives’ products aren’t insanely fragrant. Yes, this smells like pears but not in an overwhelming OMG, I’m going to throw up this smells so bad kind of way. Which is awesome!

Like all St. Ives products, this baby is free of parabens and all of that yucky stuff. I asked Esposo what he thought of the fragrance and in typical male fashion, he was totally off. “It smells like bubblegum,” he says. Okay no. It smells nothing like bubblegum. It smells like a fresh pear. Really!

It’s a body wash that is probably best for those with oily skin. It’s a bit on the clear side so if you have super dry skin, it may lack some of the moisture that you may need.

Somehow my eczema didn’t flare up too badly with this so I’m doing cartwheels. St. Ives always does a grand job with um, everything. Yes. This is a nice addition to their skincare line. I love!

Lately my skin has been making me cry. And sorry y’all – I don’t feel all that petty about crying over skin. It doesn’t mean I’m vain. It just means that if my skin isn’t in perfect condition at any given moment – I’m liable to drop tears over it. Which seems fair, right?

No? Oh. Welllssss, along with my Eurcerin Healthy Skin Challenge, I’ve been using products that have been specifically recommended to me by a Eucerin dermatologist. We had a Skype meeting and she was so sweet just listening to me complain about the eternal wreck that is my skin. I told her about my acne, eczema/dermatitis, hyperpigmentation, perpetual dry skin and the hormonal imbalances due to pregnancy. She listened intently and recommended that I try these two products.

First of all, this is my first time trying a body wash like this. Yes, I know I’m Ms. Naturalista Who Likes To Make Her Own Soap but my homemade bar soaps have been getting less and less attention since I’ve tried this. Simply put: this body wash is freaking awesome. First of all, it actually MOISTURIZES the skin. And it’s fragrance-free.

Although I grew up using body washes, I’ve had to stop using most of them because no matter how much they claim to moisturize the skin, they really don’t. At least not for my skin. Most body washes makes my eczema worse and so I’m left battling cleansed skin but insanely itchy and dry skin. The inclusion of oils in this body wash has me doing cartwheels because at initial glance and touch, I can see and feel said oil…

On the skin, it lathers nicely and so I feel like I’m getting a good cleanse but after rinsing, my skin doesn’t feel streaky clean. Instead, the oil seems to sink in. Wow! And yes, it IS fragrance-free but I can get a whiff of a faint “natural oil” smell. It doesn’t bother me but if you aren’t used to oils, it may throw you off a bit. Then again I’d rather smell like oils than like a field of artificial flowers. I’m just sayin’…

I can’t sing enough praises about this body wash. I just…can’t. I hope Eucerin never stops making it. And I’m not the only one lovin’ this stuff. Just check out the reviews.

Eucerin is following suit with many other brands to help target those of us who have not only dry skin but super itchy skin as well. I’ve tried several commercial brands and have a favorite so I was curious to see how Eucerin Skin Calming Itch Relief Treatment could sway me. The claims seem impressive enough.

…and I like the inclusion of menthol; which I know can provide a nice and cooling feeling. Consistency-wise, I would have liked the lotion to have been on the thicker side.

But it isn’t watery like most drugstore lotions are, so I’m not complaining. The menthol effect does kick in after slathering it on the skin and it feels really nice. My skin always feels completely moisturized when I use it. I tend to only use the lotion on my problem areas (neck and back) and moisturize everywhere else with coconut oil. It works surprisingly well!

I’ve been using these 2 products for a week now and while I am head over heels in love with the body wash, I will continue using both for optimal results. My eczema is still around and I’m not sure it will ever completely disappear, as it is a chronic skin disease, but I love that I’m not so itchy and flaky.

Any other eczema suffers in the house? And have you ever heard of an oil-based body oil?

Yep, it’s still the giveaway season and I don’t see it slowing down anytime soon. Hope you beautiful people don’t mind. As y’all know – I am a lover of fragrance-free and naturally-fragranced products. I’ve been this way for a few years and it’s not because I don’t like smelling pretty, because I do. But, I’ve found that heavily scented fragrances not only make me nauseous at times but can contribute to my horrible migraines. And so I got rid of my of bottles of eau de toilette, super smelly lotions and soaps and swapped them for products without scents. Which, okay, is not fun but I’m in a happier place without dealing with overwhelming scents.

However, I know most women enjoy pretty smells and that’s why I continue to review and feature products that I’m sure most ladies would love. Like this Softsoap Vineyard Escape body wash.

I love love LOVE when body washes have a scrub built-in. In this case, this body wash has exfoliating fruit seeds (I wonder what fruit…) and they do a fantastic job at cleansing the skin while exfoliating it. This body wash is all about indulging in the moment. Y’know…forgetting that you’ve got a thousand emails to check, dinner to cook and doggies to walk. The bathtub is a sacred place and I’m all for truly relaxing up in there.

Scent-wise, I don’t have too many aversions to this one. It’s got a sweet smell that doesn’t linger for hours at a time. It’s a refreshing body wash for those who have an affinity towards fruity fragrances.

Softsoap is going to gift one Clumps of Mascara reader with the following:

Yes girls ‘n guys…it’s a nice little package for you to take a few minutes to indulge yourself. How can you win this? I’ll be choosing one U.S.-based reader who has left a comment on any blog post in the past 2 weeks. It’s that easy! If you’ve been a commentin’, you’re already covered.

Guess who, for the first time in a looooong time, has stepped away from bars of soap to play around with body washes again? Meeeee! I think I’ve forgotten how awesome body washes are. I’ve been so stuck on making my own soap that I haven’t even touched body wash until a few weeks ago. This divine bottle of liquid gold that is Alba Bontanica’s Hawaiian Cocktail Body Wash broke my fast.

Have you seen these in stores? I’ve spotted them in Target and Whole Foods. The fragrance of this body wash is just absolutely incredible. It reminds me of Hawaiian punch with a citrus kick to it. Folx always hate me for bragging about how it’s a good 80 degrees in Florida in November, but a whiff of this body wash will transport you to a tropical paradise.

Like…for reals. The best thing about this body wash is what it doesn’t have.

Yep, my skin and I are both product snobs (unapologetically so) and I love how this body wash does a whole lot of omitting of the stuff that my skin hates. It is chock full of artificial fragrance but it smells so pleasant that I don’t mind using it for time to time.

I know. I just HAD to do it. It wouldn’t be Clumps of Mascara if I didn’t do something silly like toss a bottle of body wash in a blender. But seriously…when I first laid eyes on this body wash, I was all “OMG, I need a smoothie STAT!” Y’all KNOW how much I love smoothies. That said, I am loving the concept behind this kid.

Sweet, uh? Retailing for less than $5, this body was is perfect for gals who desire only a bit of of fragrance after bathing. I love that it isn’t long-lasting as I am not a fan of body washes whose scents last alllll day. While my skin is a little too sensitive right now to give this a whirl, I will definitely be stashing this for the winter months. That is, if I can stop myself from using it as a handwash.

I am picky about what I put on my skin so I was hoping that this was low on the synthetic ingredient side.

But it wasn’t. And yeah, I did have high hopes because it looks as if many commercial drugstore products have gone green-er and have omitted parabens, sulfates, dyes and what have you. Here’s to hoping that Softosoap jumps on that bandwagon!

Still…it’s a great soap. And did I mention that there are what looks to be actual strawberry seeds in there?

Coooool! All of this talk about strawberry smoothy-stuffs has me itching to make a smoothie myself. Ooooh blenderrr….

Yes, I am still in love with Shea Moisture. Chances are I will try and do a post on every single one of their products. This is a mission that I will gladly accept because I haven’t been this smitten with a skincare line like this in quite a while. Funny thing about their products…they have the longest names ever.

Shea Moisture’s Organic African Black Soap Shea Butter Wash.

Meanwhile, in 2016….

Am I right? The super long names crack me up. Doesn’t mean I love Shea Moisture any less though.

Ooooh yes, darlings…as we continue to celebrate Clumps of Mascara’s 4th anniversary, I’ve got another fantastic giveaway. Brace yourself for this one. This giveaway will make your summer a little sweeter…

Have you seen these gorgeous body washes in stores yet? I saw them at my local Target and fell in love at first whiff. I held from purchasing because my skin has been ultra sensitive; leaving me only able to use specially prescribed soaps and lotions. But that doesn’t mean a Clumps guy or gal can’t win one of these decadent body washes.

Instagram Is Love

1 week agoby clumpsofmascaraDay 22: Beauty Quote - A crazy quote for a #beautyblogger to love but it's true for me. #Makeup is fun. It's art. It can transform and inspire. It can make you feel fierce and confident. But at the end of the day, when I remove the powders, creams, mascara and gloss, I still want to embody that fierceness. So yes @lupitanyongo . I feel you, girl. #LipstickLeague

2 weeks agoby clumpsofmascaraIt's okay, girl. Marvel at what's staring back at you. You are grand. Here I am (attempting) to raise this child and in a lot of ways, she's schooling me.

3 weeks agoby clumpsofmascaraDay 12: Favorite nail polish. Can't pick and won't pick but I LOVE, I mean loooove just about every Cirque polish that I've ever come across. But really it's @cirquecolors Trocadero that I have been in love with for months now. #nailpolish #LipstickLeague #beautyblogger

7 days agoby clumpsofmascaraWhen your friend sends you a pic that should took while vacationing in Bermuda. #notenvious #notjealous #nothatin #lies

2 weeks agoby clumpsofmascaraWhen it's 73 degrees outside, you use your mixer outdoors as to not wake the toddler. Because a nap is essential to everyone's sanity. Whipping up some avocado muffins. Who am I? 4 Pinterest projects in a week? Am I my Mother?

2 weeks agoby clumpsofmascara​Day 17: Favorite Blogger - I'm super behind on this but I'll try to finish the challenge out with a bang. THREE of my favorite bloggers - @byjillee b/c she is a fantastic writer has an incredible story and I look forward to reading all of her posts. She inspires me. @naturalhairrule because she has provided such a wealth of information in an industry that has lacked for so long. She's humble, helpful and is such a light. She makes me want to do better. @verysmartbros make me laugh, think and go, huhhhh? I love reading the Black man's perspective on pop culture, relationships and randomness. #blogging #beautyblogger #LipstickLeague

1 week agoby clumpsofmascaraWash Day up in here today. Keeping it simple and sealing with grapeseed oil and some creams from @beemineproducts . #naturalhair

2 days agoby clumpsofmascaraI will cry the day this toddler resists naps. It really is the only calm part of my day. And can we get @lupitanyongo on the cover of at least 1 magazine every month? Por favor?

3 days agoby clumpsofmascaraAbout that illuminating blush stripes palette...sheer perfection! Can be used for highlighting, a blush, a bronzer and eye shadow. Lovin' this @ofracosmetics meetup! #CFLBeautyBlogger #OFRA #makeup